The expertise and knowledge of SDC has been recognised across the Highlands and Islands with requests from various places for help and advice with regard to wind farm developments, conversion of churches into heritage centres, affordable housing, etc.

This has been acknowledged with our Chair being elected by the 350 Development Trusts in Scotland to the Board of the Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS). This will involve Mike in directly influencing and developing national policy and strategy for communities across Scotland, and allow us to be at the forefront of innovations and networking to the benefit of the people of Strathnairn.

Mike’s new role will not affect his role as SDC’s Chair.

We look forward to seeing you at the Farr Gala, come and talk to us at our stall!

We are delighted to welcome three new trustees to the Board of Strathnairn Development Company appointed after the call for expressions of interest earlier in the summer.

Each of the new trustees: Iain Campbell, Hilary Lacroix, Seonaidh Mackenzie, brings experiences of life in Strathnairn and of the wider world that undoubtedly enriches our collective skills and complements the existing trustees.

We are excited to be taking forward the SDC strategy with our new colleagues, continuing to deliver the community’s hopes for sustainable development expressed in the Community Action Plan (CAP). We will be especially focusing on affordable housing, active travel, wellbeing, culture and heritage but, of course, we need a CDO to deliver the CAP as it cannot be delivered based on the efforts of the trustees alone.

Feasgar math,

After running Gaelic Beginners’ classes last year, we are asking if there is interest in doing this again, and in having Intermediate or Conversation classes.

So if you might be interested in attending any such course, could you please complete this simple form? Any problems, please let us know.

Tapadh leibh

A shout-out to the Farr Gala Committee who are putting on this year’s Gala. The Farr Gala is happening on the 20th September 2025, from 12–5pm on the Farr Hall playing fields.

Please check their Facebook Page for further details.

SDC will also be there with a stall. Please come and talk to us.

SDC has been asked to pass on a message regarding a test of the UK Government’s Emergency Alert System this coming weekend. Below is the text of the message we have received.

The UK government is testing the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 7 September 2025 at 3pm.

Your mobile phone or tablet will vibrate and make a loud siren-like sound, even if it’s set on silent. The alert message will confirm this is a test and that you do not need to take any further action.

Regular testing ensures the system is functioning correctly, should it need to be used in a life-threatening emergency. Find out more at gov.uk/alerts.

You can opt out of the Emergency Alerts, including the national test, but you should keep them switched on for your own safety.

Emergency Alerts will warn you via your mobile or tablet if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby. Only the government and the emergency services are able to send them.

There are simple and effective steps we can all take to be more prepared for an emergency. Visit gov.uk/prepare for advice on how you can prepare.

SDC recommends that all readers check that their family and friends are aware.

Posters and other media have gone up around the community as SDC seeks to recruitment more trustees.

A copy of the poster is available from this website.

SDC has published its monthly report for April 2025 that was shared with the SNCC at its last meeting.

If you have any comments please email us.

Some SDC members have requested copies of the monthly reports prepared by our CDO, Jessica Boughey. The reports covered the work she carried out while employed by SDC. They were posted to our website some time ago. They have now been re-issued as PDF files and can be downloaded from our documents webpage.

The reports describe the work carried out by her on the behalf of SDC and others to bring about the most important components of the CAP including community housing, the community hub and active travel. Towards the end of her time with us, a significant amount of her time was concerned with producing a Local Place Plan. 

Work to continue the above projects was halted when funding for the continued employment of a CDO was not made available by SCBF, a decision supported by the SNCC.

For the last two years, community groups in Strathnairn have run a limited Farr Gala in June. This gala was organised by a few community groups with help from SDC.

Both galas were well-attended, with a third of the community attending, despite the rain and wind last year.

It is the intention of SDC to help organise a gala for June 2025. It should be appreciated that a gala is never short of volunteers to help on the day itself, but a fair amount of organisation is required in the months leading up to a gala. Planning a gala normally requires planning to begin in the preceding January.

This may come as a surprise but is simply the result of the organisers having to fit the work around the rest of the lives, including work and the needs of their families. It is also important to book equipment, and other services well ahead to ensure that the facilities are available for the desired date for the gala.

SDC cannot organise a gala alone, as there is no CDO to carry out the other work that SDC trustees are engaged in. 

Therefore, we would appeal to the community for volunteers to help with the planning. It will not be a lot of work if there are many volunteers – just a few hours a month. If you are able to help, please send us an email.

In addition, the gala could benefit from some more ideas. Please also let us know if you have any suggestions and send via the above email address.

Finally, even if you are unable to help with organising or with volunteering on the day, you can offer to support an application for funding to SCBF.

SDC has published its monthly report on its activities.

If you have any comments please email us.